Shadow Culture Secretary First Reshuffle Scalp

Mr Dugher tweeted that the Labour leader had removed him from post, saying: "Just been sacked by Jeremy Corbyn. I wished him a happy new year."

He said Mr Corbyn told him he was being demoted to the backbench for warning the Labour leader against a "revenge reshuffle" in an article for New Statesman.

He wrote that revenge wasn't "very Jedi" or "very new politics".

At the weekend the former shadow culture secretary, who ran Andy Burnham's leadership campaign, cautioned that the Labour party could be left with a "politburo of seven" and that Mr Corbyn risked turning it into a "religious cult".

Mr Burnham paid tribute to Mr Dugher saying he could "leave the frontbench with his head held high".

Deputy Labour leader Tom Watson lamented Mr Dugher's departure calling him a "rare politician – a talented working-class MP who hasn’t lost his strong Yorkshire roots".

Mr Watson said: "Politicians with his ability and commitment can make a difference in any role. Labour’s loss in the shadow cabinet will be compensated for by Michael’s free thought on the backbenches."

Shadow education secretary Lucy Powell said: "Very sorry to see Michael Dugher leave shadow cabinet. Michael is a formidable campaigner who provides an important and authentic voice."

Jeremy Corbyn is expected to reveal details of his reshuffled shadow cabinet later after a series of meetings with senior colleagues last night although it is not expected to be as far-reaching as previously thought.

Shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn and shadow defence secretary Maria Eagle, who were both rumoured to be under threat, were among those to meet the party leader on Monday.

Both left without making comment to waiting journalists.

However, there was speculation Mr Corbyn may have ditched his plan to drop Mr Benn in the face of a threatened mutiny by other MPs.

The shadow foreign secretary had a very public disagreement with the Labour leader over military a

Mr Corbyn wanted to stop divisions with his top team - 11 of the shadow cabinet voted against him on airstrikes.

Some, including former London Mayor and Corbyn ally Ken Livingstone, had suggested Mr Benn could do a job swap with Mr Burnham.

Mr Benn offered no comment to waiting reporters as he left the Labour leader's office after a meeting lasting more than an hour on Monday evening.

However, Ms Eagle is expected to lose her position.

Emerging from the party leader's office, she told journalists: "I don't have anything to say to you."

Ms Eagle voted against Mr Corbyn on Syria and is a staunch supporter of the Trident nuclear deterrent - another issue on which she is at odds with the leader.

Mr Livingstone, who is opposed to Trident, was controversially appointed to chaperone her in carrying out the party's defence review.

As the reshuffle talks began on Monday Mr Corbyn moved journalists away from his office telling them: "Excuse me guys do you mind not hanging around outside my office door, could you all leave please."

Sky's Darren McCaffrey had documented the Labour leader's first shadow cabinet reshuffle in September revealing in his blog post awkward and damaging details of the decision-making process.

Labour MP John Woodcock, who has been critical of Mr Corbyn, questioned the timing of the reshuffle and pointed out the party had had a free vote on airstrikes in Syria.